National Paintball League (NPL) - brand new paintball format

Even though this is better than money ball, I just dont like the idea. The whole flag carrier thing makes the game kinda silly to me. I think 4 players is a little weird, but not a game breaker for me.

I liked the region idea the most. If you just made the rules similar to other leagues and kept the region thing, this would be even better than the flag format.

When we have tried to explain and show players the rules everyone has had pretty much that same things to say as most of you guys had said but then they play it and it all starts to make sense, even when i first heard about it i was like it probally won't work till i actually saw and played it, then i was like this is awesome. I have seen that same thing over and over with the players that we have showing it to, at first they are like i dont't know about all this the n they play and it all makes sense.

the mans right i was really unsure of the format personally didn't know where it go personally and was really questionable about the game at first then i played it holy **** its fun it forces u to be aggressive i got a lot of games in that day even if you don't play the series the format is genius to get ur players more aggressive honestly so much fun just try it

Like any other format, the flag is totally irrelevant in 99 % of the games.

Happens every few years - some well intentioned individual dreams up a format to give paintball a "focal point".

But it doesn't work and it never will, because this sport, at its heart, is about shooting the other guys, and not get shot yourself.

Whatever other silly rules you want to apply to the game, will always take a back seat to that, because you can't usually fulfill whatever you are supposed to do to score, in any format, while people are shooting at you.

We all just have to come to terms with that truth, move on, enjoy our game - and wait for technology to be able to televise paintball properly.... everything else is a fools errand.

I like the idea of offense/defense but I feel like the red zone eliminates the defensive push. If your down a point and don't have the flag, the flag carrier on offense can just tuck behind a back corner, never pop out, and waste time. Maybe if you would allow only 1 person on defense to pass the red zone in order to close out a side it would allow for a even more aggressive game. Im on the fence about this but I wouldnt mind playing it one day to make up my mind.

PSP webcast already have proved you can film live... It works great and they guys doing it are amatures (not saying anything bad), image if a real crew put it together.

I've been televising paintball for 7 years. The "paintball amateurs" are far better at televising paintball than the "pros".

Although, we have not had an occasion yet where we've put Pro BUDGET together with "paintball amateurs"; the few times the industry has blown a couple hundred thousand plus on a production it's been with non-paintball people.

first of all, can we get a video of one of these "great, fun" matches some
of you seem to have played in this format? the one on the video sucked,
especially if you're trying to "showcase" it to us

second thing, the whole "focal point" thing, I believe has been something
people have tried to achieve in the past when the "focal point" of leagues
and promoters was to get their product on tv. I think we can, at this time,
safely assume that this boat has sailed. sure, we can have Raehl give us
the final game of the college "season", and nppl get some games on ppv,
but espn is not going to open time for us unless it's paid time, and I don't
see outside-big-time sponsors like Coca Cola or Toyota rushing to get their
ads in between paintball games, not matter the format. that's why this will
never catch-on on a big, national scale. I'd like to try it one day thou.

I like the idea of offense/defense but I feel like the red zone eliminates the defensive push. If your down a point and don't have the flag, the flag carrier on offense can just tuck behind a back corner, never pop out, and waste time. Maybe if you would allow only 1 person on defense to pass the red zone in order to close out a side it would allow for a even more aggressive game. Im on the fence about this but I wouldnt mind playing it one day to make up my mind.

If the flag carrier wastes time, the play is dead and the offense loses possession. The short game clock forces aggressiveness.

I've been televising paintball for 7 years. The "paintball amateurs" are far better at televising paintball than the "pros".

Although, we have not had an occasion yet where we've put Pro BUDGET together with "paintball amateurs"; the few times the industry has blown a couple hundred thousand plus on a production it's been with non-paintball people.

- Chris

That's not really a fair comparison. The last time a "pro" crew put something together was a long time ago. Sure there is the NPPL stuff, but even that was not the same people who film NFL/MLB games everyday. There is an art to working a tricaster and getting the right angles up on screen. If you notice on the PSP and NCPA events, replays are never smooth, You have the feeling that its their first rodeo. Im not taking anything away from you or the PSP.

What I was saying is that even though these guys are not the best, The end product is still pretty damn good. So that disputes the fact that "paintball cant's be filmed" which is why these people are trying to change the format.

I'm sorry guys.. But for those of you that are complaining that the rules to the game are complicated, yall must be in 1st grade... It's really not that hard to understand. I've never played or seen the format in person, it doesn't look bad. If we as a community want our sport to grow we must be excepting of all new things. Bashing won't help and it makes all of us look like self centered *****. Please think a little before yall post.

So basically only people on offense can score a point and the defense player can't cross the 50?

No offense but I don't know of anyone who can afford this kind of paint ball. It seems like it sux to be on defense each time. Why don't u turn down the ROF of the offensive players and create opportunity for the defensive player to score as well.

I'm sorry guys.. But for those of you that are complaining that the rules to the game are complicated, yall must be in 1st grade... It's really not that hard to understand. I've never played or seen the format in person, it doesn't look bad. If we as a community want our sport to grow we must be excepting of all new things. Bashing won't help and it makes all of us look like self centered *****. Please think a little before yall post.

If you don't like something in the rules, want something changed ect ect

Its a stupid format... If you want to change paintball, Go back to uncapped semi (no bounce/no ramp) and remove the lane blockers. The original xball fields (pre-blocker) were nice and uncluttered and fun to watch (also makes it easier to watch as there is not su much crap in the way.) It will be cheaper because you shoot less paint, you will see more moves as you wont be able to keep 12bps consistantly, its more exciting and fun in general...

Its a stupid format... If you want to change paintball, Go back to uncapped semi (no bounce/no ramp) and remove the lane blockers. The original xball fields (pre-blocker) were nice and uncluttered and fun to watch (also makes it easier to watch as there is not su much crap in the way.) It will be cheaper because you shoot less paint, you will see more moves as you wont be able to keep 12bps consistantly, its more exciting and fun in general...

Thanks for the input

I'm sure the creators of this format would love to hear feedback from the paintball community seeing as the official rules have been up online to the public for only a few days... Helpful feedback would be appreciated!

Suggestions that I have heard that I like are being lenient for the first year or two on the Teams Attire. Gearing up COMPLETELY in the same gear ( from headbands to shoes) will take time. I agree that headbands should NOT be uniform, and shoes for that matter. Jerseys/Pants/Gloves seems reasonable. :Tup:

So basically only people on offense can score a point and the defense player can't cross the 50?

No offense but I don't know of anyone who can afford this kind of paint ball. It seems like it sux to be on defense each time. Why don't u turn down the ROF of the offensive players and create opportunity for the defensive player to score as well.

The defense must stop the offense to get possession. Defensive plays are just as important as offensive. If you can't keep then from moving, they pinch you out and score. They maintain possession until they can be stopped. A whole game may yield varied scores: 8-0, 4-4 then it goes to OT, even 2-1. Defense isn't complex. Just hold key bunkers and lock down the field. It's just like a normal game. The offense must shut the d down and progress, pinching the d out. It's not rocket science.

EDIT
There is no ROF cap. You said turn it down, why? Nobody will force you to shoot 18bps. You can keep someone pinned with less.

That's not really a fair comparison. The last time a "pro" crew put something together was a long time ago. Sure there is the NPPL stuff, but even that was not the same people who film NFL/MLB games everyday. There is an art to working a tricaster and getting the right angles up on screen. If you notice on the PSP and NCPA events, replays are never smooth, You have the feeling that its their first rodeo. Im not taking anything away from you or the PSP.

I agree with regards to the result, but NOT the cause.

Believe me, I've worked with out-of-industry crews, and paintball crews, and in each case there's a unique problem: In-industry crews are operating on tiny budgets (which leads to shortages of advanced equipment) and out-of-industry crews lack the experience to cover paintball well. So in one case you get good coverage with constrained production, and in the other you get great production with horrible coverage.

If we could arm our paintball production crews with large budgets, we might start to see a much better product.

Technology coming down in cost will help too.

As for paintball not being on ESPN, you're right, paintball won't be on ESPN again for some time - but that's not because paintball can't be as interesting to watch as other sports, it's because we have never put paintball on TV the "right" way, which is developing the audience for it first.

They televise Golf not because it's a particularly exciting sport to watch, but because there are a lot of people who play golf who will watch it. We need to get back to having more people who casually play paintball, and that audience will support paintball on television.

As for paintball not being on ESPN, you're right, paintball won't be on ESPN again for some time - but that's not because paintball can't be as interesting to watch as other sports, it's because we have never put paintball on TV the "right" way, which is developing the audience for it first.

- Chris

Pure fire right here. He speaks the truth.

I watched the 05' nppl vids a while back at work, and If i didn't play paintball, i'd have no idea wtf they were talking about OR doing on the field. Getting people interested and wanting to learn more about the sport/try the sport/watch the sport - would be the goal.

Most have used less paint than a regular day of playing, with more games played.

Paint has been set, you have access to as much of it as you can muster mister.

What you wont see is anybody who has actually PLAYED this format bad mouthing how it plays.....

We have been averaging about 30+ games a day. I have never been this tired during tourney play.....

keep in mind im basing this in total observation. why would you expect me to be well seasoned to have a
background on the ins and outs of this play when its not a staple or at all widespread yet. i mean, really.
im not tying to egg anyone on, but a few responses i see for the "elite" echelon that had a chance to play
seem to follow this formula.

Quote:

"god you people know nothing!" "what, you havent played it before?" "yeah, the series hasn't started, so what?"

it does sound interesting, but again, the vid presented as a representation showed alot of what xball
shows. find a spot, squat, shoot. and we all know the xball player's paint expenses. but like moneyball,
the flag play does show some promising possibilities. then again the pro leagues should have a great
shot at this, but what about the meat and potatoes AM player? again, paint supply, prices, and the
fact that there doesnt seem to be any league support for the player when there are only demands made.

conform.
conform.
conform.

get ready for the cream and cherry,it seems to be out of the little mans pocket.
oh, and you cant play with your team. your group of buddies. your brotherhood you
forged through past seasons. bonds made, money won and lost, wins, losses, struggles
and triumphs. and to top it all off there is NO information on these combines or regional events.